Helpful couple closing Greencastle ACE store

Thursday, August 2, 2007

For more than 20 years, Ace has been the helpful place to find Pat and Sue McCune.

But after some careful thought, the couple has decided to close their Greencastle hardware store, and move to Indianapolis to follow different pursuits.

It was a difficult decision, and not one they were quick to make.

The McCunes say they started thinking about leaving their business when Pat had a heart attack more than a year ago.

"We just started looking at things a little differently," Sue said, acknowledging that owning and operating the successful business can be more than a little stressful.

Pat and Sue McCune are closing their store after 20 years to move to Indianapolis

"The store is kind of like a baby that never grows up," Pat added.

The couple first picked up that baby shortly after IBM Corp. closed its Greencastle facility. They felt they were taking a chance buying the already established store, which was located a block off the courthouse square. But they found Greencastle to be a resilient community that overcame that loss of industry and took care of its residents.

Through the years, Ace Hardware has grown with many local customers, and when the couple chose to move to a larger location on Indianapolis Road, their business tripled -- along with their inventory, staff and customers.

The recent decision to close the hardware store was not their first choice. They had an interested buyer, but about three weeks ago that deal fell through. With the building's lease ending in the fall, it was too late to find another buyer. So they decided to close the store instead.

"We thought we had it sold, and Pat had another opportunity presented to him," Sue said of their decision. "The time just felt right."

They still plan to move to Indianapolis to be closer to two of their three children.

"One of these days, I'll be a grandma, and I want to be closer to them," Sue said of her family.

Pat agreed. "We're tired of working 60-hour weeks, especially Sue, and I want her to be able to be a grandma."

All three of the McCune's children earned college degrees and have jobs that won't keep them around to take over their parents' store.

"When you don't have anyone coming up behind you to take it over, you wonder why you're working so hard," Pat said.

But, Greencastle has been good to the McCunes, the couple emphasize.

"We're really proud to have raised our kids here. It's a great community," Sue said. "There's no way we can express our feelings for the community. When we had that (auto) wreck four years ago, the outpouring from the community was astronomical. Our customers were our friends. They were just part of our lives."

While Sue plans to be semi-retired, Pat said he has two job options ahead that are less stressful and time-consuming. It will give them more together time away from work to do the things they want to do.

They point out that they have a nice camper outside the store that is still winterized. They haven't had a chance to use it yet this year.

The couple is approaching the closing of the store with mixed emotions, but they do feel they are making the right decision for their own future.

The close-out of the store will begin Aug. 8. No final closing date has been set. But their customers and friends still have some time to stop by the place where Pat and Sue are at their helpful best.

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